Our water resources must be conserved, maintained and managed: U Henry Van Thio

At a coordination meeting of the National Water Resources Committee yesterday, Vice President U Henry Van Thio said that effective management of the country’s water resources must be a cohesive effort by all relevant ministries and organisations.

U Henry Van Thio, who is chairman of the National Water Resources Committee, said the purpose of the meeting at the Presidential Palace yesterday morning was to discuss the development of water-related sectors, effective management and usage of water resources to support cooperation with international organizations, effective coordination in overcoming difficulties while implementing the works in the water resource sector, and to coordinate and discuss future work processes.

At the coordination meetings of the committee, U Henry Van Thio said respective committee members must coordinate the works conducted by the Ministries and organizations to ensure the all-round management of water resources in Myanmar, cooperate with international organizations, fulfil the work requirements for priority works conducted in states and regions and coordinate the works between ministries and organisations. This helps ease the implementation of the works, as well as the designation of future works, said the , chairman of addressed its coordination meeting 2/2018 at the Presidential Palace yesterday morning Vice President.

As water-related works are vital for each country’s development, all are urged to implement the Yangon Declaration and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals to achieve good results. A Myanmar delegation led by the Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Ohn Win, attended the 8th World Water Forum held at Brasilia, Brazil, in March 2018 and submitted the results achieved during the Third Asia-Pacific Water Summit held in Myanmar, and included Myanmar’s involvement at the ministerial-level declaration of World Water Forum. Myanmar has cooperated and participated in the water-related international cooperation sector.

Water-related Ministries, organizations and National Water Resources Committee members, and the personnel under their management are urged to participate and do their best to implement the work processes and works of the State.

In the water-related sector, the committee needs to establish sustainable water management and utilisation, reduce and mitigate water-related natural disasters, increase cooperation with neighbouring countries on cross-border river, obtain technology and cooperate for mutual benefit, as well as support and participate in collecting and distributing water-related data and information. In the all-round management of water resources and related works conducted in cooperation with international organizations, priority must be given to capacity building works that meet the requirement of the people and the state.

In addition to international cooperation in water-related works with countries within the ASEAN, Lancang-Mekong, coordination was required between the relevant ministries and organisations to prepare and conduct the necessary future works and projects.

The National Water Resources Committee members were requested to actively discuss the water-related works conducted by the ministerial organizations, cooperation with international organizations, and requirements and suggestions on coordinating with other ministerial organisations. In addition to this, all need to strive to implement an all-round water resources management system that was effective and beneficial for the people and the country, said the Vice President.

Next, Committee Vice Chairman Union Minister for Transport and Communications U Thant Sin Maung explained about maintaining the rivers and creeks, conducting works to prevent bank erosion, inspecting river crossing bridges for long-term existence, monitoring water quality in the rivers, measuring meteorological and hydrology data and informing the public, conducting inland water transport and managing port works, ensuring the safety of the vessels and the public using it, developing and producing technicians and experts on water transport, the Ayeyawady basin all-round development project, rainwater harvesting system in the Bagan region and the highlighted works implemented in the water-related sectors.

Later, Committee Secretary Director-General of the Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River Systems U Tun Lwin Oo explained the works completed by the National Water Resources Committee.

Union Ministers Lt-Gen Ye Aung, U Kyaw Win, U Ohn Win, Deputy Minister U Soe Aung, National Water Resources Committee members, the advisory group and the departmental expert group then explained the sector-wise works conducted and the future works.

Following this, U Henry Van Thio coordinated a discussion.

In his concluding speech, the Vice President said that for the committee to manage the water resources of the entire country, Ministries and organizations must conduct their regular works, as well as support and participate in works to develop the water-related sectors. The meeting was concluded after the Vice President pledged his support to the successful management of the country’s water resources and implementation of the water-related works.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar